Flaked ice dispensing machine



Dec. 1, 1964 H. o. KEMPTON FLAKED ICE DISPENSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 15, 1962 HOWARD 0. KEHPTON Dec. 1, 1964 H. o. KEMPTON FLAKED ICE DISPENSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1962 HOWARD O. KEMPTON V Decil, 1964 H. o. KEMPTON 3,159,309

FLAKED ICE DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mar: 2::

HOWARD o. KEMPTON H hs7 United States Patent 3,159,369 FLAKED ICE DEEPENSING MACZFHNE Howard 0. Kernpton, Columbus, Ohio, assignor t0 Flake Ice Machines, Inc, Chicago, ill., a corporation of l'llinois Filed Oct. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 236,566 2 Claims. (Cl. 22256) This invention relates to a new and improved machine adapted to dispense ice supplied to the machine in the form of flakes, chips or the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing machine adapted to hold a considerable quantity of ice in the form of flakes, chips or the like, received from an ice-making machine of the known type adapted to produce ice flakes on a continuous basis, the dispensing machine being adapted to deliver the flaked ice upon demand into a pitcher, bucket or the like.

A further object is to provide a new and improved dispensing machine of the foregoing character in which the ice flakes are fed by a power operated conveyor from a storage hopper to a power operated reflaker from which the ice flakes are dispensed through a spout into the desired receptacle, the dispensing machine being provided with means to prevent the reflaker from being jammed with ice flakes.

Another object is to provide a dispensing machine of the foregoing character which the reflaker is provided with an overload device adapted to de-energize the power operated conveyor to prevent the reflaker from being overloaded by the feeding of the ice flakes to the reflaker at an excessive rate.

A further obiect is to provide a new and improved dispensing machine of the foregoing character in which the overload device takes the form of a centrifugal or other similar speed responsive switch which operates when the reflaker slows down due to the loading of the reflaker by excessive ice, so as to de-energize the conveyor until the reflaker has cleared away the ice and thus is able to return to normal speed.

Another object is to provide a new and improved dispensing machine of the foregoing character in which the reflaker and the conveyor are operated by separate electric motors, and in which the overload device de-energizes the motor for the conveyor in response to the slowing down of the reflaker motor under load.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a flaked ice dispenser to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational section, taken generally along a line 2-2 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the dispenser with various parts broken away and shown in section.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken generally along a line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational section, taken generally along a line 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatical elevational view showing details of the drive for the dispensing machine, the view being taken generally as indicated by the line 6--6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical circuit of the dispensing machine.

As already indicated, the drawings illustrate a machine 10 for dispensing ice in the form of flakes. As shown in FIG. 1, the machine 10 has an outer housing or cabinet 12, which is generally rectangular in form. The ice 3,1593% Patented Dec. 1, 1964 flakes may be delivered to the machine 10 by an icemaking machine of the well known type adapted to supply ice in the form of flakes or chips. The ice flakes are dropped into the machine it) through an opening 14 in the upper wall 16 of the cabinet 12. The ice-making machine may be placed on top of the cabinet 12 over the opening 14, as indicated by the outline 18 in broken lines in FIG. 1.

The flaked ice, which enters the machine 10 through the opening 14, drops into a bin or hopper 20, which is mounted within the cabinet 12. To retard the melting of the ice, the bin it? may be insulated with a suitable heat insulating material, disposed between the bin and the walls of the cabinet 12.

The illustrated bin 26 has an upper section 22 which flares downwardly so that the lower end of the upper section is wider than the upper end, as shown to advantage in FIG. 2. This construction facilitates the move ment of the flaked ice downwardly through the bin 2% and tends to prevent the flaked ice from caking up and forming bridges across the walls of the bin.

The bin 2%) has a lower section 24 which contains a pair of agitators 26a and 26b, and a feed screw 28. The lower section 24 has a bottom wall 30 which includes a central trough-shaped portion 32, in which the feed screw 28 is mounted, as shown to advantage in FIG. 5. T he trough portion 32 is substantially semi-cylindrical in shape. It will be seen that the feed screw 26 fits closely within the trough portion 32.

The bottom wall also includes larger cylindrically curved trough portions 340 and 34b, in which the agitators 25a and 2612 are mounted. The trough portions 34a and 34b are disposed on the opposite sides of the central trough portion 32.

It will be seen that the agitators 26a and 26b comprise shafts 3611 and 36b, which are on the same horizontal level but are disposed over the trough portions 34a and 34b. The shaft portions 36a and 36b are adapted to be driven in opposite directions by a drive train 38, shown to best advantage in FIG. 6. In this case, the shaft 36a is driven clockwise, while the shaft 361; is driven counterclockwise.

The illustrated drive 38 comprises meshing gears 40a and 40b which are mounted on the shafts 36a and 36b. A pinion 42 meshes with the gear 40a and is secured to a gear 44. It will be seen that a pinion 46 meshes with the gear 44 and is secured to a gear 48. A pinion 5i? drives the gear 48 and is connected to a pulley 52. A belt 54 connects the pulley 52. to a smaller pulley 56, mounted on the shaft 58 of an electric motor 60.

A push button switch 62 may be mounted on the front of the cabinet 12 to control the operation of the machine. The operator actuates the switch 62 when flaked ice is to be disposed into a pitcher, bucket or the like. A foot pedal switch 64 may also be provided so that the operator may operate the machine when his hands are not free to operate the push button. Either the push button switch 62 or the foot switch or may be omitted, if desired.

The agitator shafts 36a and 36b are formed with a plurality of stirring rods or spokes 66, which radiate from the shafts and are arranged in spiral patterns, as will be evident from FIGS. 4 and 5. The spokes 66 on the two shafts 36a and 361') mesh with each other so that the spokes on one shaft pass between the spokes on the other shaft. Any bridges or cakes that may tend to form in the flaked ice are immediately broken up so that the ice flows freely to the feed screw 28. It will be seen that the outer ends of the spokes 66 pass closely along the cylindrically curved trough portions 34a and 34b. The outer ends of the spokes also move closely past the screw 28. In this into the conduit 82. V The entrance portion 86 of the conduit 82 is straight,

snsasos provided with a cutting or chopping blade 68, which is mounted on the outer ends of a pair of spokes 73, extending radially from'the shaft. The blades 68 extend parallel to the shafts 36a and 361:. As shown, each blade 68 has a relatively thick trailing edge 72 but tapers tov a relatively thin leading edge 74. When the shafts 36a and 365 are rotated, the blades 68 swing around through the flaked ice and chop up any balls that may tend to form in the ice. The blades 63 move closely past the screw 28 and the inner walls of the trough portions 34a and 34b and thus are efiective to prevent ice from accumulating on the screw and the trough portions. The circular paths of the blades 68 overlap, but the blades are oriented so that they do not strike each other. Moreover, the blades are located so that they do not strike the spokes66 on the opposite agitator. It will be seen that the spokes 66 are confined to approximately /2 of the radial space around each of the shafts 36a and 36b, and that the blades 68 are located in the other half of the space.

The combined stirring action of the rods 66 and cutting action of the blades 68 is much more effective in assuring a continuous flow of flaked ice to the screw 28, than would be expected from a consideration of the individual actions of these components. Neither the stirring rods alone nor 28, but the combined action of these components is effective to break up all bridges, balls and cakes in the ice and to maintain the ice in a flaked condition so that itmay be fed freely by the screw 28.

Any water that may be formed in the bin 26 due to thawing of the ice is carried away by the drain pipes 78, three of which are illustrated. It will be seen from FIG. 2

operated to energize the machine.

. and-sanitary. As shown, the door 1% is made of transparent plastic'or other suitable material. Agrill or per forated lower wall lid is provided in the chamber 98 to permit any water or stray ice flakes to drop downwardly into a compartment 112. A drain pipe IE4 is connected to the compartment 112 to carry away water from the compartment.

The star wheel or cutter $2 of the reflaker is perferably rotated by an electric motor 116, which may be operated under the control of the foot switch 64 or the push button switch 6Z, as desired by the operator. The circuit diagram of FIG. illustrates the preferred manner in which the conveyor motor 60 and the refiaker motor 116 may be controlled. Power may be supplied to the machine by a conventional power cord i359 comprising leads or power lines 132 and 13 i which'are connected to a conventional power plug 136, adapted to be inserted into an ordinary electrical outlet or receptacle, which may deliver alternating current at 115 volts or any other suitable voltage.

The push button switch 62 and the foot switch 64 may be connected in parallel sothat either switch maybe A. door switch 138 may be connected in series with the parallel combination of the switches 62 and 64 and may be adapted to be op-' erated by opening of the door 166. in this way, the door 1&6 must be opened by the operator before ice can be dispensed. This arrangement prevents accidental discharge of ice into the chamber 5 8. The switch 138 may be omittedif not desired. I

The refl aker motor 116 is prefcrablyconnected so as to be energizedby a simultaneous closure of the door switch 133 and either the push button switch 62 or the that the drain pipes are connected to the lower extremities of the trough portions 32, 34a and 34b. 7

The pinion 46 and the gear 48 are mounted on a shaft portion 80 of the screw 28, so that the screw is driven by 'the motor 60. The shaft portion 80 extends out of one end of the ice bin 29. 'The rotation of the screw is effective to. feed the flaked ice toward the other end of the bin and into a tube or conduitSZ. It will be seen from FIG. 3 that the screw 28 has an end portion 84 which extends a substantial distance into the entrance portion 86 of the conduit 82. In this way, the'flaked ice is positively fed but the conduit then curves upwardly so as to carry the flaked ice to an elevated discharge position. At its upper end, the conduit 82 is connected to a reflaker 88 which comprises a generally cylindrical housing 9t in which a rotatable star wheel 92 ismounted. The illustrated star wheel 92 is formed with four vanes or blades 94. A dis the ice is dispensed in the 'form of loose flakesjeven though the ice maytend to cake, to some extent, in the conduit 82.

The spout 96 dischargesinto a chamber 98 formed in the front portion of the cabinet 12. A housing 109 may be mounted inside the cabinet 12 to formthe chamber 96.

An opening 102 is provided in the frontwall 104 of the cabinet 12 so that a pitcher, bucket 'or other receptacle may be inserted into the chamber 98 to receive the ice from the spout 6. In this case, a sliding door 1&6 is provided to close the opening 192. As shown, the door is slidable upwardly and downwardly along tracks 108, but the door may be arranged to slide horizontally. The door It will be recalled that the flaked iceis fed into the reflaker 88 by the screw conveyor 23 which is operated by the motor 60. At times, there may be a tendency for the screw conveyor 28 to feed the ice to the reflaker 88 at a faster rate than the ice can be discharged by the reflaker.

Under these'conditions the reflaker motor 116 tends to become overloaded. The refl'aker 88 mayactually be- [come jammed with excessive ice unless provision is made the well known centrifugal type. adapted to open the switch 141 when the motor 116 slows to stop or reduce the fiow of ice to the refiaker.

Thus, the conveyor motor" 69 is adapted to be controlled by an overloaod device 142 which may comprise an overload control switch M1. As shown, the motor 60"is connected in series with the overload control switch 141, between the power line 134 and the lead 140.

'The overload control switch 141 is adapted to be opened it the reflaker motor 116 is overloaded. "The switch 141 may be operated by a control device 146 which may be responsive to the current through the motor 1 116 or to the speed or torque developed by the motor 116.

Preferably, the device 14-6 comprises a governor ofv any known or suitable type, responsive to the speed of the motor 116. For example, the'governor 146 maybe of The governor 146 is down to a predetermined extent below its normal speed. Any overloading of the motor 116 will cause the motor to slow down, whereupon the switch 141 will be opened. In this way, the conveyor motor 60 is de-energized, so that the feeding of flaked ioeto the refiaker 88 is temporarily discontinued. The stopping of the How of ice to the reflaker 88 gives the reiiaker a chance to clear out the excess ice, whereupon the reflaker motor 116 returns tonormal speed. The governor .146 then closes the switch 141 so as to, energize the conveyor motor 60.

It will be evident that the controlarrangement of the present invention prevents the reflaker SStrQm'being jammed with excess ice, and also prevents overloading of the refiaker motor 116 by the excessive feeding of ice to the refiaker by the screw conveyor 28. In this way, the ice dispensing machine always operates in a dependable, eflicient and expeditious manner.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for dispensing flaked ice, the combination comprising a receptacle for receiving and holding a supply of the flaked ice, a conveyor having its input end connected to said receptacle for carrying the flaked ice therefrom, an electric conveyor motor having a driving connection to said conveyor for operating said conveyor,

21 refiaker housing connected to the opposite end of said conveyor for receiving the flaked ice therefrom, said refiaker housing having a discharge opening therefrom, a rotary cutter mounted in said refiaker housing for cutting, loosening and discharging flaked ice therefrom through said discharge opening, an electric refiaker motor having a driving connection to said rotary cutter for rotating said cutter, means for electrically energizing said refiaker motor, an energizing circuit connected to said conveyor motor and including a control switch for closing and opening said circuit to start and stop said conveyor motor, and a speed responsive governor connected to and driven by said refiaker motor and having an operative connection to said switch for closing said switch in response to the attaining of a predetermined minimum speed by said reflaker motor while opening said switch in response to the reduction of the speed of said refiaker motor sub stantially below said minimum speed so as to protect said refiaker motor against overloading due to the feeding of excessive ice to said refiaker housing by said conveyor.

2. In a machine for dispensing flaked ice, the combination comprising a receptacle for receiving and holding a supply of the flaked ice, a conveyor tube having one end connected to said receptacle, a conveyor feed screw extending from said receptacle part way into said tube for forcing the flaked ice out of said receptacle through said tube, an electric conveyor motor having a driving connection to said screw for rotating said screw, a refiaker housing connected to the other end of said conveyor tube for receiving the flaked ice from said tube, said refiaker housing having a discharge opening therefrom, a rotary cutter mounted in said refiaker housing for cutting, loosening and discharging the flaked ice from said housing through said discharge opening, an electric refiaker motor having a driving connection to said cutter for rotating said cutter, means for electrically energizing said refiaker motor, an electrical energizing circuit connected to said conveyor motor and including a control switch for closing and opening said energizing circuit to start and stop said conveyor motor, and a speed responsive governor connected to and driven by said refiaker motor and having an operative connection to said control switch for closing said switch in response to the attaining of a pre-determined minimum speed by said refiaker motor while References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,044,609 Watson Nov. 19, 1912 1,092,658 Melisch Apr. 7, 1914 1,742,434 Costello Jan. 7, 1930 2,730,865 Murdock Ian. 17, 1956 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR DISPENSING FLAKED ICE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE FOR RECEIVING AND HOLDING A SUPPLY OF THE FLAKED ICE, A CONVEYOR HAVING ITS INPUT END CONNECTED TO SAID RECEPTACLE FOR CARRYING THE FLAKED ICE THEREFROM, AN ELECTRIC CONVEYOR MOTOR HAVING A DRIVING CONNECTION TO SAID CONVEYOR FOR OPERATING SAID CONVEYOR, A REFLAKER HOUSING CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CONVEYOR FOR RECEIVING THE FLAKED ICE THEREFROM, SAID REFLAKER HOUSING HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING THEREFROM, A ROTARY CUTTER MOUNTED IN SAID REFLAKER HOUSING FOR CUTTING, LOOSENING AND DISCHARGING FLAKED ICE THEREFROM THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, AN ELECTRIC REFLAKER MOTOR HAVING A DRIVING CONNECTION TO SAID ROTARY CUTTER FOR ROTATING SAID CUTTER, MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZING SAID REFLAKER MOTOR, AN ENERGIZING CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO SAID CONVEYOR MOTOR AND INCLUDING A CONTROL SWITCH FOR CLOSING AND OPENING SAID CIRCUIT TO START AND STOP SAID CONVEYOR MOTOR, AND A SPEED RESPONSIVE GOVERNOR CONNECTED TO AND DRIVEN BY SAID REFLAKER MOTOR AND HAVING AN OPERATIVE CONNECTION TO SAID SWITCH FOR CLOSING SAID SWITCH IN RESPONSE TO THE ATTAINING OF A PREDETERMINED MINIMUM SPEED BY SAID REFLAKER MOTOR WHILE OPENING SAID SWITCH IN RESPONSE TO THE REDUCTION OF THE SPEED OF SAID REFLAKER MOTOR SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID MINIMUM SPEED SO AS TO PROTECT SAID REFLAKER MOTOR AGAINST OVERLOADING DUE TO THE FEEDING OF EXCESSIVE ICE TO SAID REFLAKER HOUSING BY SAID CONVEYOR. 